Archbishop Roger Herft stands aside after failing to tell police of abuse

By Andrew Burrell
Australian
October 10, 2016

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Anglican Archbishop of Perth Roger Herft. Photo by Ryan Osland

In a letter to parishioners today, Mr Herft said he had recently returned from leave and had decided to stand aside immediately to “focus my attention on the royal commission’s ongoing inquiry”.

“I have decided to voluntarily stand aside from my role, function and duties as Archbishop of Perth and Metropolitan of Western Australia with immediate effect,“ he said.

“This will include all duties including ordinations, pastoral visits, public functions, Synod, Diocesan Council, correspondence and other related engagements.

“I have taken this decision after much prayer, thought and consultation with my advisers to allow for the mission and ministry of the Diocese of Perth to flourish.

“I believe this is the appropriate decision while I focus my attention on the Royal Commission’s ongoing inquiry into the Diocese of Newcastle.

“I am humbled by the courage and fortitude of survivors and victims of child sexual abuse as they continue to bear witness to their stories of suffering.

Mr Herft told the royal commission in August that he was given a “sacred trust” by the people of Newcastle during his time as bishop between 1993 and 2005, and “I have let them down and let them down badly”.

“I want to thank the commission for holding me personally accountable, for holding the church personally accountable,” he said.

Under questioning, Mr Herft accepted that evidence showed he was warned on three occasions in the late 1990s that senior priest Graeme Lawrence was a sexual abuser, including of children.

He also was warned repeatedly about sexual crimes by the late paedophile priest Peter Rushton, but did not report either man to police, the commission has heard.